It's a stark truth that has emerged in the wake of the global rugby superstar's death, aged 40, prompting the creation of a trust aimed to provide for his boys Dhyreille, 6, and Brayley, 5.

The Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust excludes the boys' mother, Nadene, Lomu's third wife, as a beneficiary or from having control of any of the funds. However, she will be able to apply to the trust for money to help raise their sons.

The trust has been set up by the NZ Rugby Players Association, and chief executive Rob Nichol says it is a response by business people and friends of Lomu who recognised the need to support the couple's children.

It is now seeking donations from those who want to help Lomu's boys. Mr Nichol said those who set up the trust did so after seeing summaries of Lomu's financial affairs.

"There's not going to be any great windfall. There's not great savings there. There's certainly nothing that's going to sustain any ongoing financial benefit for the family.

"What we've seen is a statement of where it's at. And it's not there, assets and liabilities-wise. Our assessment is the family aren't going to be able to rely on any financial proceeds or ongoing benefits."

Finances entangled with debtLomu came to worldwide prominence at the Rugby World Cup in South Africa in 1995, but was later diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, which required a kidney transplant in 2004.

His body's rejection of the kidney in 2011 saw him seeking another transplant and again needing regular dialysis. He died last month after returning from a bout of heavy promotional work at the Rugby World Cup.

Herald inquiries show Lomu's finances entangled with debt. Public records also show his company, Stylez Ltd, has a 2012 Mercedes-Benz bought through UDC Finance bearing the registration plate "Nades1". Lomu also borrowed to buy his 2007 Mercedes V350 peoplemover, which carries the plate "J0nah".

His remaining assets were tied up in a series of apartments in Wellington owned through Stylez and mortgaged to Westpac. They were most recently valued at $740,000.

The family's home in the upmarket Auckland suburb of Epsom, where Lomu died of cardiac arrest, has a rateable value of $2.2 million but is a rental.

Education and "wotnot" is what normal people work for and pay for themselves, and my comments about lavish lifestyle was the way they were living while Jonah was alive, driving around in flash mercs, living in flash housing in Auckland and traveling around the world, yet apparently they were broke, only the very rich could afford that lifestyle

renting a flash house is pretty weird if you're that tight on money... can't help but think he was not very in control/aware of his own circumstances. It's weird he had mortgages on properties... I wonder if he's taken very poor advice or been talked into poor investments...

Nothing wrong with that, my problem is expecting regular kiwis who may be no better off to fund it, if ex-All Blacks and media want to fund it themselves so be it

I don't think they're expecting regular kiwis to do that just the kind-hearted ones who want the precious darlings to live in a mansion with a swimming pool in Remuera or where ever and be able to take a twice-yearly holiday abroad

Wonder if his first wife took him to the cleaners - she wore the pants and controlled the finances when they were together - he also became estranged from his family when he was with her - bet that was over money too. Cause he would have been expected to fund the whole family.

And I can't believe there isn't already a trust fund set up for those kids, just because he had little in his name doesn't mean he was broke.....

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Obi Wan Kanobi said. "I have never seen such a wretched hive of scum and villainy." Little did Obi Wan realize he was describing the National party.

He may well have been taken to the cleaners by both his ex wives but then he married again and had children so he should have made sure they were provided for as he always knew his poor health could lead to premature death.He had told someone he didn't think he'd make 50,yet he has apparently done nothing to provide for his kids.

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“Blessed are the destroyers of false hope, for they are the true Messiahs - Cursed are the god-adorers, for they shall be shorn sheep!”― Anton Szandor LaVey, The Satanic Bible

"The Jonah Lomu Legacy Trust excludes the boys' mother, Nadene, Lomu's third wife, as a beneficiary or from having control of any of the funds. She will, however, be able to apply to the trust for money to help raise their sons."

Shouldnt even be in the media doesnt need to be publisized, a bunch of business people want to set up a fund for the kids, we dont need to know about it, we dont need to know his personal business either. f**ken sucks.

Logged

Obi Wan Kanobi said. "I have never seen such a wretched hive of scum and villainy." Little did Obi Wan realize he was describing the National party.